The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-01-26
THE VOLCANO.
Rivers Of Fire!
ISLAND OF HAWAII SHAKING.
Nearly -Four Hun
dred Earthquake
Shocks.
Graphic Description Of the Lava
Flow.
Exact Record of the Quakes.
Accounts Of the Phenomena from Many
Sources.
Exact Record of the Quakes,
Accounts of the Phenomena from Many
Sources.

by the steamer w. G.. Hall the
HERALD has received the following
graphic and very comprehensive des-
cription Of the lava flow, and complete
record Of earthquake shocks on the
slopes Of Mauna Loa, Hawaii, from the
morning Of the 18th to that of the
24th January, inclusive These data
are from the pen of an esteemed core
spondent, peculiarly well qualified for
the task he has so kindly and ably per.
formed. In addition to that core
spondents accounts, our staff has col
lected variety Of intensely interesting
information on the all-absorbing sub.
jet, so that the present issue comprises
an invaluable record Of what must be
ranked among the most tremendous
series Of commissions Of nature that
have occurred on this group within
human knowledge.
FIRST APPEARANCE OF FIRE.
Sunday January 10, 1887, FIRE was
noticed on the summit Of Mauna Loa
at Pohakuhahalei, near Mokuaweo-
Nweo. 1t was seen first about s p. M,
and died out in couple of hours.
Monday January 18th, between ?
and a. M, there we're three quite
severe shocks Of earthquake, the first
that have been felt for some time. A
number more we're noticed during the
morning, and in the afternoon they
increased rapidly. Up to p. m. 100
we're counted. From that hour until
midnight there was often not one min
ute's interval between them, and at a
a. m. of the 18th, 3I4 distinct shocks
had been recorded. They continued,
although fewer in number, until mid
night.
THE VOLCANO IN EARNEST
AT 7 p. m. the eruption began in
good earnest. The starting point is
on the slope Of Mauna Loa, about a
mile to the north and little above
the well-known extinct crater called
Halepohaha. A temple Of the King
Uni is near the place, which was visit
ed by Kamehameha III. The new
crater is perhaps twenty miles from the
sea and about ten northwest and
above the hssure from which poured
out the lava flow OF 1868. The nigh
was dark, but clear and cold, with
strong trades blowing. AT the start,
column of bright red smoke and steam
shot up hundreds OF feet, but no lava
was to be seen. There is a compare
lively level plain in the vicinity, ane
the reflection showed that the lava wa
rapidly covering it.
THE RIVER OF FIRE.
AT 8 D. M. jets began to appea
along the lower edge of the plain, anC
t $40 a large stream poured over, raj
around the base of Halepohaha, ant
headed for Kona, or in southwest
erly direction. Another stream follow
ed shortly afterwards, flowing NOR
directly towards the sea, and branching
4 into smaller streams as it ran down tn
!. slope. BY p IN. the edge OF thu
plain for mile in length was overflow
/ inc The lava followed about tn
o same course to the sea, dividing int
S numerous branches, to unite an'
P divide again. The column OF re'
h smoke and steam, with which the erup
y ton began, had given place to surg
e inc mass of fire fountains, that wer
n eSping hundreds of feet towards tn
y heavens, falling and rising necessarily
d GOVERNMENT ROAD CUT OFF
., Throughout the night the lava pour
"a ed ont without abatement, and at day
v Iipbt of the 10Th had crossed the GOV 10,
eminent road from Kona to kau u
trades we're blowing strongly the whol
dav At1I;So am. one OF the stream
he o aS0hohlv reached the sea between tn
South Point and the Puu's Pele' as
-, hat time a large body OF steam aros
ge ~ that direction. The eruption col
.eey i, ' without change during the day
' dark the branch that had ru
rae towords Kona at the commencement
Ial onneared to have been checked; D'
''' a ,bere was no alteration in the force
cy, , the main flow during the night
", VAST SMOKE PILLARS
,iiy The morning of the goth was c lie,
,seeS nd ~ cold with trades still strong III
W. lava was nearing the sea AZ Srve'
fks' noints apparently FIRE 'oun'''''s